CONNECTED CAREGIVERSUpdates & Opportunities for Resource Families in California

J U N E 2018 V O L . 4

02 2018 Legis lat ion

Tracker for Caregivers

SNEAK PEEK

03

04

Regional Events to

Create Statewide

Caregiver Pol icy Agenda

Parents & Caregivers

for Wel lness

New staf f member !

Connect & Fol low !  

Funding for Relatives at the Time of Placement!

BY  JENN REXROAD

Governor Brown has signed the 2018- 2019 budget and it

includes funding for emergency/relative placements during

the Resource Family Approval process, so that all children will

receive a foster care payment at the time of placement.

Caregiver Day at the Capitol laid important groundwork for

the awareness of the hardships that children and families

were facing while they awaited support. Thank you, again, to

all who attended Caregiver Day at the Capitol. Your efforts

paid off! The Resource Family Approval process has also seen

changes to make it more family friendly. We are awaiting the

passage of SB 1083 to make further improvements for

caregivers and the children in their care. More funding for

social workers to "clear the backlog" of families awaiting

approval has been added to the budget as well. We look

forward to our next opportunity to make a difference at

Caregiver Day at the Capitol in February 2019.

We thank the Walter S. Johnson Foundation for their generous support.

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Legislation Supporting Resource Families & Children in Foster Care

Passing a bill is just the first step in improving the child welfare system. Local level

implementation is the next step. We need caregiver input on the Child Care Bridge

Program, Child & Family Team meetings, and Placement Stability. If you are interested

in learning more, please contact Dayna Freier at dfreier@cacaregivers.org

You can sign up for updates or read bill language at:

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov or on our website: cacaregivers.org/updates-advocacy/

Please let us know if you have any concerns or ideas for amendments.

Greater Sacramento Region

Resource Family Policy Summit

June 30

University Covenant Church, Davis

Greater San Diego Region

Resource Family Policy Summit

September 29

St. Augustine University, San Diego

We are in the process of scheduling additional

events to collect caregiver input. Please

contact us if you are interested in attending

an event in your region.

register: www.cacaregivers.org/regional-events

Upcoming Events

INTRODUCING DAYNA FREIER EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATEWe are proud to introduce Dayna Freier, our new

Executive Associate. Dayna Freier is excited to be the

newest team member to join the California Alliance of

Caregivers. She offers years of experience working with

non-profit and social service organizations and has her

bachelor’s degree in social work/psychology and her

master’s degree in organizational leadership. She is the

proud mother of 5 great kids. She has a lifetime of

involvement and experience with child welfare issues, as

her oldest has Down Syndrome and Autism, and

youngest is adopted from the child welfare system. She

looks forward to aligning with caregivers to advocate for

and promote the well-being of children in foster care.

Let us know if

you would like to be a

leader with CAC!

September 2018

October 2018

January 2019

March 2019 

July 2019 

Caregiver & Provider

training in Eureka

Caregiver & Provider

training in Bakersf ie ld

Caregiver & Provider

training in Sonoma

Caregiver & Provider

training in Fresno

Caregiver & Provider

training in Lancaster

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 2019Cal i fornia Mental

Health Advocates for

Chi ldren & Youth

Conference

www .cmhacy .org

Advocates from around the state gathered to networkand learn how to improve the quality and penetrationof mental health services for children and youth.Parents & Caregivers for Wellness partnersparticipated in a "Fish Bowl" presentation betweenyouth and parents. The discussion was lively andinformative.

One of the best presentations of the conference wason Education Rights presented by East Bay Children'sLaw Center. I highly recommend that caregivers viewthis presentation for information on how to navigateyour child's entitlement to education services. https://www.cacaregivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/EBCLO-Ed-Rights-CMHACY-presentation-5.2018.pdf

A full list of the conference presentations: https://cmhacy.org/2018-conference/#presentation

Please take the caregiver survey if you haven'talready given feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/parentcaregiver_cac

Sign up for information on upcoming Parents &Caregivers for Wellness events: http://bit.ly/PC4WSignup

To schedule a focus group or "Fish Bowl" presentationwith your group: jrexroad@cacaregivers.org